Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 7 January 2013, Official Report, column 124W, on local government finance, what assessment he has made of the cost of new burdens placed upon local authorities as a result of housing benefit changes; and if he will publish any such assessment.

Steve Webb: Funding of £14.8 million in respect of estimated new burdens in 2012-13 from the local housing allowance changes, and preparations for implementing the social sector size criteria and the benefit cap is being distributed to local authorities this month. Details have been published in a housing benefit circular, which can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/s1-2013.pdf
	Work is continuing to finalise estimates for 2013-14 and further details will be released shortly.